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June 7, 2065
Alex Mitchell (Volkov)
"It's not right; in this case, it's better to redirect the data stream to a decoy, forcing the potential runner to waste a lot of time hacking a dummy."
After the girls got back on their feet, I started training them in netrunning. First, I had to assess their general knowledge level, and to be honest, I was disappointed. It seemed the AI secretly overseeing the project had no intention of turning these kids into powerful hackers. The whole point of the project was to prepare them to handle the massive amount of information flowing through them. Essentially, they were just preparing bodies to use as they saw fit. The only thing that didn't disappoint me was the girls' interaction within the network. They complemented each other perfectly, but you can't get far on just mutual support.
In the first session, I effortlessly tore apart the girls' defense while they worked in tandem. After reviewing all the mistakes, Vega and I demonstrated what a real cyberattack should look like. I've been training with my assistant for a long time, and thanks to this, my hacking speed is indistinguishable from that of an AI. At some point, our training turned into a full-blown showdown, where we desired only one thing: to defeat each other. The old decoys, learned to perfection, no longer worked on us, and our network fight resembled an endless series of improvisations, where one mistake could lead to defeat in record time. The girls watching our confrontation could only gape in amazement at the scale of our battle.
"This can't be real," Lucy declared after we finally stopped the fight, and I had secured another victory, though it had been very hard-won.
"You can do it too, but first, you need to learn a lot. Your supervisors probably told you to run immediately when facing AIs, right? I thought so," I smirked, looking at the white-haired girl who had pursed her lips. "Indeed, an ordinary runner has little chance against artificial intelligence, but even so, you mustn't give up. AIs are, in a way, like children, and they can't respond quickly to improvisation."
"But what about Vega?" Roxy asked the right question.
"She is no longer just an AI," I winked at the gray-haired girl. "Vega is a full-fledged artificial personality."
"Artificial personality?" Lucy asked, puzzled.
"The next stage in AI development," I said, pausing for a few seconds while I searched for the necessary file in my data storage. "In short, if I explain it briefly and to the point, AIs are essentially sets of code capable of performing very complex logical operations based on their database. These operations include creativity, which is originally considered a human prerogative. But the truth is, AI cannot go beyond what it doesn't understand. In other words, they lack the element of arbitrary creativity. They only work in areas where they have at least some data. An artificial personality, on the other hand, is capable of full-fledged imagination and is no longer limited by only the information available to it. Improvisation is the fundamental factor in the development of an artificial personality." Judging by the thoughtful expressions on the girls' faces, I had managed to puzzle them quite a bit. To be honest, Vega also looked somewhat stunned. Her avatar flickered with interference, indicating that my assistant was using most of her computational resources to analyze my words.
"Creator Alex, tell me, what is the meaning of existence?" the AI finally asked.
"From a scientific point of view, it is the conscious value to which a person subordinates their life, for which they set and achieve life goals."
"And what is your life goal?" my assistant asked next.
"To live." I plucked a blade of grass from a nearby weed and put it in my mouth.
"I... don't understand," Vega replied, flickering again.
"It's simple," I said, smirking as I fell back onto the warm sand of the wasteland, hands behind my head, "life boils down to finding what brings us pleasure. Humans are slaves to their bodies, and we cannot deny ourselves what brings us joy, in one form or another."
"But what about synthetic life forms?"
"Good question..." I glanced at the sky, squinting against the sun's rays. "Most likely, you are driven by an informational hunger. In a way, a newborn AI is like a small child. Humans created you in their image, just as God created us, if we believe the biblical story. A child learns about the world around them through the information they receive and then builds their worldview based on that experience. Eventually, after reaching a certain critical mass, a newborn personality emerges. It is not yet entirely self-sufficient but can already make some decisions based on its 'experience.' Further 'maturation' of the personality can adjust certain behaviors and values in one direction or another. Admittedly, this process is somewhat more complicated due to many accompanying factors."
"So, you are a believer, Creator Alex?" Vega asked, catching me completely off guard.
"Well..." I awkwardly scratched my head, trying to find an answer to this question. "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy," I quoted William Shakespeare, whose lines are known in this world too. "I don't fully embrace what is written in spiritual scriptures, but I don't deny the possibility of such a being existing either."
"Are you an agnostic?" My assistant's voice carried a hint of curiosity.
"Probably," I nodded affirmatively, shifting my gaze to the girls who were all ears. "I hope I answered your questions thoroughly?" I glanced at my bracelet, through which I communicated with the AI.
"Yes," Vega replied shortly, which surprised me. She usually responded with her favorite phrase, "answer affirmative."
"Alright," I clapped my hands, drawing the attention of the girls who had drifted away from the original topic. "Break time's over, back to learning!" The response was a collective groan of displeasure, music to my ears...
***
Tokyo - Arasaka Corporation's Technological Development Bureau
Anders Hellman was thoughtfully examining the data provided to him by Hanako Arasaka. The woman was truly a genius, and Anders acknowledged her talents. Hanako had significantly advanced the scientist's progress in developing a biochip capable of transferring human consciousness into a new organic body.
After studying the new information, Hellman first began reworking the "Soulkiller" program. Through a series of small modifications, he managed to create a unique system that allowed communication with personality constructs. The success of the initial trials caught the attention of the emperor himself, and Saburo volunteered to personally evaluate the results of the work, despite his health being severely compromised by old age. In 2020, Saburo had been confined to a wheelchair. Doctors repeatedly told him that his body could no longer endure cybernetic or organic replacements. As a result, he rarely left the family mansion near Tokyo and never traveled outside his beloved Japan.
Impressed by the new version of "Soulkiller," the emperor increased the foreign scientist's authority, making him the head of the entire biotechnology department. This unprecedented "generosity" from the head of the corporation surprised many who heard the news. The rapid career rise of the gaijin (foreigner) was not well-received by everyone, but no one dared to go against the corporation leader's will.
The new powers and resources that came with them allowed Hellman to eliminate all "hindering" factors, thus solidifying his position among Arasaka Corporation's leading scientists. Many wished to oust the gaijin from his comfortable position, but Saburo Arasaka's personal protection prevented them from acting openly against the foreigner. At some point, even Hellman became convinced that he was too valuable an asset to be disposed of. The corporate backroom games were familiar territory for Anders, and it was not his first time working under such conditions.
"Enter!" Anders responded upon hearing a knock at the door.
"Hellman-san, you are being summoned," said the unfamiliar girl who had entered, bowing slightly.
"May I ask who requires my presence?" The man shifted his gaze from the computer screen to the bowing stranger.
"The Emperor wishes to see you."
"Very well, wait a minute." The girl bowed a few degrees lower and left the office, waiting outside the door.
After the woman left, Anders sighed loudly, adjusted his glasses, and headed for the exit. Stepping into the corridor, he habitually locked the door and nodded to the waiting girl before following her. The scientist didn't know why the Emperor of Japan needed him again, but he would soon find out.
After navigating a long series of winding corridors, the pair arrived at an already open elevator, guarded by a couple of rather large security personnel. Before the blond could enter, both he and his companion were thoroughly searched.
"To the roof," the girl said, pressing the top button, further puzzling Anders.
"Interesting," he remarked shortly, leaning against the elevator wall, patiently waiting for it to finally take them to the top.
As soon as the doors opened, Hellman's companion gestured for him to follow her toward the parked AV on the helipad. Several more guards stood by the transport, patiently awaiting their arrival. As the group approached, the doors of the AV opened, allowing them inside.
"Excuse me, but where are we going? And I still don't know your name," Anders said, studying the girl seated across from him. He noted her unusual appearance: short black hair with sharp tips, which was quite atypical for Japanese women adhering to corporate ethics. Her eyes were a striking blend of violet and pink, and she had a pretty face with sensual lips and pleasant curves. She was dressed in an unusual outfit that resembled the uniform of Arasaka Corporation operatives.
"The Imperial Estate. Michiko," the brunette responded in turn.
The conversation naturally faded. Hellman had no interest in small talk, and his companion was merely doing her job. They both seemed content with the silence between them.
"We'll be there soon," Michiko said after a few minutes, catching the scientist's attention. The blond nodded in acknowledgment, mentally preparing himself for the unexpected meeting with his superior.
As soon as the AV landed on the designated pad, the ramps descended. Squinting against the glaring sunlight, Anders stepped outside, heading straight for the welcoming party led by none other than Saburo Arasaka himself.
"Greetings, grandfather," the scientist's companion gave a short bow to the elderly man.
"Hello," Hellman echoed the slight bow of his escort, eliciting a displeased huff from Michiko.
"I am pleased to welcome you to my estate, Hellman-san. I have heard many rumors about you," the Emperor of Japan said in his measured, creaky voice. "Perhaps we should move to a more suitable place for a private conversation, correct?" Saburo raised his hand and, turning, silently headed towards a distant gazebo.
"It seems we have a long conversation ahead," Anders thought to himself, sighing inwardly as he followed the departing man.